Portable kitchen



T. HEIL PORTABLE KITCHEN Filed May 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 71) E a do A591! Y QDM July 12, 1960 T. HElL PORTABLE KITCHEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1958 T. HEIL PORTABLE KITCHEN July 12, 1960 Filed May 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Hem are flail PORTABLE KITCHEN Theodore Hell, Lodi, Calif., assignor to Heilite Trailers, Lodi, Califl, a limited partnership Filed May 19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,227

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-237) This invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a portable outdoor kitchen-of novel structureadapted for convenient transport in a trailer or station wagon, and in use to be readily set up for camping or picnicking.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a portable outdoor kitchen which, when closed, is in the form of a compact, relatively light weight, rectangular case, provided with a carrying handle; the device being constructed-in the main-of light weight but durable sheet metal, such as aluminum alloy.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a portable outdoor kitchen, whichwhen the case is open-aifords, in well arranged and accessible relation, a food compartment, an ice chest, an elevated serving shelf, a water tank, a stove supporting shelf, compartments for a cutlery tray and dishpan, and a drop-leaf work shelf. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable outdoor kitchen wherein the water tank-when the case is closed-is wholly contained in the latter, but which tank is mounted in a novel manner to swing out-when the case is open-to a position overhanging the ground, whereby water can then be drawn from the tank into a container without obstruction by said case.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable outdoor kitchen, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the water tank is mounted in connection with the case so as to permit of ready manual removal of such tank for filling with water.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a portable outdoor kitchen which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable portable kitchen, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the portable outdoor kitchen as supported by the foldable legs; the case being .shown closed.

, Fig. 2' is a similar view, but shows the case open, yet .with the water tank remaining in transport position.

Fig. 3 is a similar but fragmentary view, taken from the opposite side, and showing the water tank as swung out for'use.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, showing particularly the water tank in its swung-out position for use; the view looking at'the front 'of such tank.

= line'5-5 of Fig. 4.

Patented July 12, 1960 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the portable outdoor kitchen as supported on the open tailgate and adjacent portion of the rear floor of a station wagon.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the portable outdoor kitchen comprises a case, indicated generally at 1; such case being rectangular in plan and relatively shallow. The case 1 is comprised of a bottom 2, front panel 3, rear panel 4, opposite side panels 5 and 6, and a top indicated generally at 7. Such top 7 is split transversely from side to side and intermediate the front and back in order to provide a front top section 8 and a rear top section 9; said sections being secured together at adjacent edges by a piano hinge 10. At the rear thereof the top 7 is connected by a piano hinge 11 to the upper edge of the rear panel 4.

The top 7 includes-at its perimeter-a narrow depending skirt 12 disposed exteriorly of the case when said top is closed; the latter then being releasably secured in such position by a suitcase-type latch 13 connected between the central forward portion of the front top section 8 and the front panel 3.

Upon release of the latch 13 the top 7 is opened by articulating the top sections 8 and 9 upwardly and rearwardly about the hinges 10 and 11 as axes, and until said top section 8 assumes a horizontal position spaced above the rear portion of the case 1, and at which time the top section 9 upstands in the nature of a back wall.

The top section 8-When in its elevated horizontal positionprovides a serving shelf, being then supported at the front corners by upstanding links 14 pivotally connected between said corners and the corresponding side panels 5 and 6. Forward folding of the top sections 8 and 9 from their open position, as in Fig. 2, is prevented by diagonal break-down type braces 15 connected between the ends of top section 9 and the side panels 5 and 6. To close the top 7, the braces 15 are broken downwardly and the sections 8 and 9 are then swung back to horizontal position; the links 14 then lying between the corresponding portions of the skirt 12 and the side panels 5 and 6.

The front panel 3 is free at its ends from the side panels 5 and 6, and at its lower edge said front panel 3 isconnected by a piano hinge 16 to the adjacent edge of the bottom. Thus, upon outward and downward swinging of the front panel 3 from its upstanding position to a horizontal position, said panel provides a dropleaf shelf held in suspension by a sliding stay bar 17 connected between said panel 3 and the side panel 5.

When the front panel 3 is in its raised or vertical position, as when the case is closed, headed locating pins 18 on opposite ends of said panel are received in notches 19 in the front vertical edges of the side panels 5 and 6.

Inside, the case 1 is provided-substantially centrally between the front and back-with a full height, transverse vertical partition 20 which divides the case into a rear compartment 21 and a forward compartment 22; one end portion of the rear compartment 21 being fitted with an insulated ice chest 23 which includes a hinged cover 24 normally secured closed by a releasable catch 25; such ice chest having a suitable bottom drain (not shown).

The remaining portion of the rear compartment 21 is adapted for the reception of food stuffs and cooking utensils. The forward compartment 22, which is open to the front when the panel 3 is lowered, normally containsin one end portion thereofa substantially cubicle water tank, indicated generally at 26, but which water tank is adapted and mounted, as will hereinafter appear, to swing out to an outboard position for use, as. shown in Fig. 3.- By reference to the parts thereof when said tank is in its outboard position it includes a front 27, aback 23, a top 29, a bottom' 39, an outer side 31, and an inner side 32.

The front 27 and the back 28 are rectangular and symmetrical to the remainder of the tank, but of somewhat greater dimension, whereby to provide outwardly projecting flanges all about the tank, front and rear. Such flanges are of particular advantage at the rear of the tank for the purpose as will hereinafter appear, and include an upstanding top flange 33, a depending bottorn flange 34, and at the inner rear corner of the tank a laterally projecting, vertical side flange 35.

The forward portion of the side panel 6-i.e. the portion thereof ahead of the transverse partition 2P-is in'the form of a swingable front section 36 hinged at its rear edge to the remainder of said side panel 6 by a piano hinge 37; such front section 36 being in alinement with the remainder of the side panel 6 when the case 1 is closed. See Figs. 1 and 2.

The water tank 2s, which includes a handle 33 and a filler cap 39 on the top 29, is removably mounted in connection with the swingable front section 36, in the following manner:

The upstanding top flange 33 of the back 28 is provided, at transversely spaced points, with outwardly projecting headed pins 4d which are received in upwardly opening notches 41 out in the upper edge of the swingable front section 36 of side panel 6. Additionally, the depending bottom flange 34 is removably engaged, at its-outer end portion, in a spring clip 42 secured-as by rivetingto the inner face of the outer lower corner of the swingable front section 36. Such spring clip 42 also includes an inwardly projecting spring lip 43 which frictionally engages on the adjacent corner of the bottom 2 when said front section 356 is in its closed position; this for the purpose of stabilizing said front section 36 and the tank 26 mounted thereon.

The tank is further removably secured in connection. with the swingable front section 3 by engagement of the laterally projecting vertical side flange in a vertical slot 44 formed in association with the adjacent leaf of the hinge 3'7 by the rigid attachment to such leaf of a vertically disposed angle member 45; The side flange 35 is engaged, from above,into the vertical slot 44, and the tank is then lowered until the headed pins 40 rest in the notches 4-1, and the bottom flange 34 engages in the spring clip 42.

As so. mounted, the water tank 26 is effectively but manually removably supported from the swingable front section 36 of the side panel 6. When swung out to its position of use, as in Fig. 3, the water tank 2a is releasably maintained in such position and further stabilized by a swing arm latch, indicated generally at 46', and which latch engages between the inner side 32 of the tank and the bottom 2 of the case. Such latch 46 includes a swing arm 47 which-when swung from a horizontal to a vertical position-frictionally cam-engages against a foot plate 428; the swing arm 47 being pivoted in connection with the inner side 32 of the tank, while the foot plate 48 is on the bottom With the water tank as in its swung-out or open position, water may be conveniently drawn from such tank by means of a spigot 59 which projects from the front 27 adjacent the bottom of said tank.

The forward compartment 22, in the portion thereof not occupied by the water tank 26 when in its in-swung or transport position, includes-between the top and bottom thereof-21 shelf 50 adapted for reception of a camptype portable stove. The stove shelf 50 is supported at one end by the side panel 5, at the opposite end by a longitudinal partition 51, and intermediate its ends by another longitudinal partition 52. Such partitions define separate cubby holes 53 and 54 adapted for the reception of a cutlery tray and a dish pan, for example.

When the water tank 26 is in its out-swung position for use, as in Fig. 3, the portion of the bottom 2 between partition 51 and said tank provides a work area, as for reception of a dish pan. In addition, the dropleaf shelf formed by the front panel 3 when the latter is open or lowered forms another work area.

The longitudinal partition 51 is notched at its front end, as at 55, for reception of the spigot 48 when the water tank 26 is in its in-swung or transport position.

The side panel 5 is provided, directly above the shelf 5%, with an access opening 56, normally embraced by a swing-type cover plate 57, to permit manual access to the valve controls of a portable stove resting on said shelf 50.

The described portable outdoor kitchen is adapted to be supported, in an above-ground position and for use, by means of folding legs 58 of generally the same type as on a conventional card table. Thus, such legs need not here be further described, except to note that they are adjustably telescopic to compensate for variation in ground level or to adjust the working height of the case 1. With. the legs 58' unfolded and the case 1 supported above-ground, and upon top section 8 of top 7 being raised, the front panel 3 lowered, and the water tank 26 swung out to and latched in its position of use, a very handy and convenient kitchen ensemble is provided, with allof its components being readily accessible.

In order to facilitate movement of the described portable outdoor kitchenwhen horizontal and with the legs 58 folded out of the wayon a surface such as the bed of a trailer or the floor of a station wagon, the follow ing arrangement is provided:

Longitudinal angle members 59 are fixed to the under side of the bottom 2 and extend along opposite side edges thereof from front to rear and adjacent the ends, such longitudinal angle members are each fitted with rollers 60 dimensioned to extend slightly therebelow. Hence, when the portable outdoor kitchen is disposed on a solid surface it can be conveniently rolled forwardly or rearwardly on the rollers 60. For example, in Fig. 8, the portable outdoor kitchen is shown as rolled out of the open rear end of a station wagon 61, with the rear rollers remaining on the floor 62 of said station wagon; the forward rollers having already escaped the tailgate 63. In this position of the portable outdoor kitchen it may be opened and used without the necessity of full withdrawal from the station wagon and unfolding of the legs 58 for ground support.

The portable outdoor kitchen-because of its lightweight constructionmay also be easily manually carried fromplace to place in an upright or vertical position, with the front panel 3 uppermost; this being accomplished by a handle 64 attached exteriorly and centrally to said front panel 3.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the followmg is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. In a portable outdoor kitchen including a case having an initially separate vertical panel section, means vertically hinging, the panel section for swinging motion between a normally closed position and a laterally outwardly projecting position, a water tank normally disposed in the case adjacent said panel section, means mounting the water tank on the panel section for swinging therewith, the water tank being in an outboard position clear of the case when said panel section is swung to its laterally projecting position, the case including a bottom, and means between the bottom and said water tank arranged to releasably latch the latter in said outboard position; the latch means including an element mounted on and upstanding from the case bottom adjacent its outer edge, and a swing arm pivoted on the side of the tank in position to frictionally engage said element in holding relation; the bottom of the tank being raised relative to the lower edge of the panel sufficiently to clear said element when the panel and tank are swung to a closed position while enabling said lower edge of the panel to have a closing fit against the case bottom.

2. In a portable kitchen which includes a rectangular case having rear and side panels and a top to overlie the case and rest on said side panels; said top comprising a front section and a rear section, means hinging the sections together and means hinging the rear section along its rear edge to the upper edge of the rear panel whereby the rear section may be raised to a vertical position with the front section then extending forwardly from the upper edge of the rear section, said sections having depending skirts along their side edges, and

means to releasably retain said front and rear sections in such vertical and horizontal positions, respectively; such means comprising, on each side of the case, a diagonal foldable brace connecting the adjacent skirt of the rear top section and the adjacent side panel of the case on the outside of said skirt and panel, and a link pivotally connected to the skirt of the rear section adjacent the rear end and on the laterally inner face thereof and on the adjacent side panel on the outside and adjacent the upper edge thereof; said link being vertically disposed when the rear top section is similarly disposed and the skirt of said section being spaced laterally out from the side panel sufliciently to receive the link therebetween when the top sections are lowering to a case covering position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,259 Burrage June 25, 1907 1,240,997 Moore Sept. 25, 1917 1,284,979 Ayers Nov. 19, 1918 1,421,564 Reche July 4, 1922 1,600,830 Lewis Sept. 21, 1926 2,064,972 Eickmeyer Dec. 22, 1936 2,106,619 Merrill Jan. 25, 1938 2,354,272 Miller July 25, 1944 2,662,989 Thatcher Dec. 15, 1953 

